And with seed potatoes you will find a much greater range of varieties available.

That said, if you have potatoes that are starting to sprout, rather than waste them plant them -outside the garden or in a pot if youre worried sbout diseases. Organic and farmers market potatoes should work fine. I bought seed potatoes this year and saw no difference to be honest. Call it beginners luck but ive grown potatoes for six years now without a problem. Growing something thats so easy snd free is a special satisfaction.

But, that said, it is far too late to plant potatoes outdoors this year.

I plant out potatoes from the grocery whenever they get sprouts instead of eyes. I always have ’new potatoes’ to discover in some pot somewhere. But then, I live in California where potatoes grow in all but the high heat of summer. However, for most of the US/World, where there is a real winter,, then St. Patricks Day (March 17th) is said to be potoato planting time.

The store bought potatoes usually come treated so that the 'potatoe eye' doesn't sprout while still on the shelves. That means they may harbor pathogens such as fusarium and blight. Which may then affect your garden's soil. Therefore, it's advisable to opt for seed potatoes which are much safer, and always the best choice if you're home gardening.

Still, this doesn't mean the grocery store potatoes aren't a great option. The final products are just similar - taste isn't that different, shapes and sizes are the same, and quality too. The only downside to store-bought potatoes are their potential to introduce diseases into your garden. As a remedy though, is grow them in a container.